Display apparatus and electronic apparatus

ABSTRACT

A display apparatus is configured to allow a user positioned in a first direction to visually recognize a first image and to allow a user positioned in a second direction different from the first direction to visually recognize a second image. The display apparatus includes a display unit that alternately displays the first and second images; an irradiation unit that provides irradiation light; a color filter that respectively includes first and second areas for the first and second images, through which the irradiation light is transmitted; and a distribution unit that distributes the irradiation light transmitted through the first area of the color filter to the first direction and through the second area of the color filter to the second direction. The color filter includes color components of three primary colors and a white color.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a display apparatus and an electronicapparatus, and particularly relates to a display apparatus and anelectronic apparatus suitably applied when different pictures aredisplayed with respect to different directions at the same time.

BACKGROUND

For example, there is a car navigation system to be mounted on anautomobile which applies a display (hereinafter referred to as adual-view display) capable of displaying an image for navigation withrespect to a driver's seat and displaying another image (for example, aTV program and the like) with respect to a passenger's seat.

FIG. 1 shows an outline of the dual-view display. A dual-view display 1can display an image “l” with respect to a user L positioned on the leftside facing the dual-view display 1 and can display an image “r” withrespect to a user R positioned on the right side facing the display.Naturally, it is possible to display the same image with respect to theuser L and the user R (see JP-A-2005-78092 (Patent Document 1)).

FIG. 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the dual-view display 1shown in FIG. 1.

The dual-view display 1 is provided with a parallax barrier 11, a colorfilter 12, a liquid crystal layer 13 and a backlight 14 sequentiallyfrom an upper layer to a lower layer direction. In the drawing, onlyportions concerning dual-view display are shown, and a polarizationplate, electrodes and so on concerning driving of the liquid crystallayer 13 are not shown.

The parallax barrier 11 distributes irradiation light from the lowerlayer to the user L or the user R. The color filter 12 includes colormaterial films of three primary colors R, G and B having a sub-pixelsize.

FIG. 3 shows an arrangement of three primary colors in the color filter12 seen from the front of the dual-view display 1. Note that “l” in thedrawing denotes vertical lines of the image “l” visually recognized bythe user L and “r” in the drawing denotes vertical lines forming theimage “r” recognized by the user “R”.

Returning to FIG. 2, the liquid crystal layer 13 displays a combinedimage in which vertical-direction lines of the image “l” aimed at theuser L and the image “r” aimed at the user R are alternately arranged inunits of sub-pixels sectioned by R, G and B of the color filter 12. Theliquid crystal layer 13 on an upper layer side is uniformly irradiatedby the backlight 14.

In the dual-view display 1, the combined image generated by the liquidcrystal layer 13 reaches the user L and the user R by the irradiationlight from the backlight 14 through the color filter 12 and the parallaxbarrier 11. Accordingly, the user L can visually recognize the image “l”and the user R can visually recognize the image “r”.

SUMMARY

As described above, transmittance of irradiation light is low in thedual-view display 1 due to the structure such that the irradiation lightis distributed to right and left, and thus, a screen visually recognizedby the user is liable to be darkened. Accordingly, in related art, theluminance of irradiation light is increased by increasing an output ofthe backlight 14, thereby securing the brightness of the screen visuallyrecognized by the user.

However, when the output of the backlight 14 is increased, powerconsumption thereof is also increased. Therefore, a mechanism ofsecuring the brightness of the screen visually recognized by the userwithout increasing power consumption is necessary.

In view of the above, it is desirable to secure the brightness of thescreen visually recognized by the user.

An embodiment of the present disclosure is directed to a displayapparatus allowing a user positioned in a first direction to visuallyrecognize a first image and allowing a user positioned in a seconddirection different from the first direction to visually recognize asecond image, which includes a display unit alternately displaying thefirst image and the second image, an irradiation unit irradiating thedisplay unit displaying the first image or the second image withirradiation light, a color filter including a first area for the firstimage and a second area for the second image, through which theirradiation light transmitted through the display unit is transmitted,and a distribution unit distributing the irradiation light transmittedthrough the display unit and the first area of the color filter to thefirst direction and distributing the irradiation light transmittedthrough the display unit and the second area of the color filter to thesecond direction, in which the color filter includes color components ofthree primary colors and a white color.

One of the first area and the second area of the color filter may havecolor components of three primary colors and the white color, and theother may have color components of three primary colors.

The color filter may include the first area and the second areaalternately arranged in lines.

The color filter may include the first area and the second areaalternately arranged in lines in units of sub-pixels or in units ofpixels.

The irradiation unit may include a first light-emitting unit emittingirradiation light directed to the first direction, and a secondlight-emitting unit emitting irradiation light directed to the seconddirection.

The irradiation unit may allow the first light-emitting unit to emitlight in synchronization with a timing when the first image is displayedon the display unit, and may allow the second light-emitting unit toemit light in synchronization with a timing when the second image isdisplayed on the display unit.

The display apparatus may further include an irradiation control unitindividually controlling light-emitting timings and outputs of the firstlight-emitting unit and the second light-emitting unit of theirradiation unit.

The display apparatus may further include an image signal correctionunit performing correction processing to at least one of an image signalcorresponding to the first image and an image signal corresponding tothe second image.

In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the first image and thesecond image are alternately displayed on the display unit, the displayunit displaying the first image or the second image is irradiated withirradiation light, the irradiation light transmitted through the displayunit and the first area of the color filter is distributed to the firstdirection and the irradiation light transmitted through the display unitand the second area of the color filter is distributed to the seconddirection.

Another embodiment of the present disclosure is directed to anelectronic apparatus allowing a user positioned in a first direction tovisually recognize a first image and allowing a user positioned in asecond direction different from the first direction to visuallyrecognize a second image, which includes an image signal correction unitperforming correction processing to at least one of an image signalcorresponding to the first image and an image signal corresponding tothe second image, a display unit alternately displaying the first imageand the second image, an irradiation unit irradiating the display unitdisplaying the first image or the second image with irradiation light, acolor filter including a first area for the first image and a secondarea for the second image, through which the irradiation lighttransmitted through the display unit is transmitted, and a distributionunit distributing the irradiation light transmitted through the displayunit and the first area of the color filter to the first direction anddistributing the irradiation light transmitted through the display unitand the second area of the color filter to the second direction, inwhich the color filter includes color components of three primary colorsand a white color.

In another embodiment of the present embodiment, the correctionprocessing is performed to at least one of the image signalcorresponding to the first image and the image signal corresponding tothe second image, the first image and the second image are alternatelydisplayed on the display unit, the display unit displaying the firstimage or the second image is irradiated with irradiation light, theirradiation light transmitted through the display unit and the firstarea of the color filter is distributed to the first direction and theirradiation light transmitted through the display unit and the secondarea of the color filter is distributed to the second direction.

According to the embodiment of the present embodiment, it is possible tosecure the brightness of the screen visually recognized by the user.

According to another embodiment of the present embodiment, it ispossible to secure the brightness of the screen visually recognized bythe user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is view showing an outline of a dual-view display;

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a related-art dual-viewdisplay;

FIG. 3 is a view showing an arrangement of three primary colors in arelated-art color filter;

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a display apparatus towhich an embodiment of the present disclosure is applied;

FIG. 5 is a view showing an arrangement example of respective colors ina color filter with W;

FIG. 6 is a view showing another arrangement example of respectivecolors in the color filter with W;

FIG. 7 is view showing a structure example of a backlight;

FIGS. 8A and 8B are views showing irradiation directions of thebacklight; and

FIG. 9 is a chart for explaining use examples of the display apparatusto which the embodiment of the present disclosure is applied.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the present disclosure (hereinafterreferred to as an embodiment) will be explained in detail with referenceto the drawings.

[Structure Example of Display Apparatus]

FIG. 4 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a display apparatus 20according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

The display apparatus 20 is applied to, for example, a car navigationsystem, displaying an image “l” with respect to a user L positioned onthe left side facing the display apparatus 20, and displaying an image“r” which is different from the image “l” with respect to a user Rpositioned on the right side facing the display apparatus 20. Naturally,it is possible to display the same image with respect to the user L andthe user R.

The display apparatus 20 is provided with a parallax barrier 21, a colorfilter with W 22, a liquid crystal layer 23 and a backlight 24sequentially from an upper layer to a lower layer direction. The displayapparatus 20 is also provided with an image signal correction unit 31and a backlight control unit 32.

In the schematic cross-sectional view of the drawing, only portionsconcerning dual-view display are shown, and a polarization plate,electrodes and so on concerning driving of the liquid crystal layer 23are not shown.

The parallax barrier 21 distributes irradiation light from the lowerlayer to the user L or the user R in units of sub-pixels. It is alsopreferable to use a lenticular lens instead of the parallax barrier 21.

The color filter with W 22 is formed by adding W (white) to threeprimary colors R, G and B having the sub-pixel size. As W is added tothe three primary colors R, G and B, the brightness of the screenvisually recognized by the user can be secured without increasing anoutput (luminance) of irradiation light. The present applicant hasalready published and shipped a liquid crystal module called “WhiteMagic” in which W is uniformly arranged in the display.

FIG. 5 shows an arrangement example of three primary colors R, G, B andW in the color filter with W 22 seen from the front of the displayapparatus 20. Note that “l” in the drawing denotes vertical lines of theimage “l” visually recognized by the user L and “r” in the drawingdenotes vertical lines forming the image “r” recognized by the user “R”.The drawing corresponds to a case where the parallax barrier 21distributes the image “l” and the image “r” in units of sub-pixels.

FIG. 6 shows another arrangement example of the color filter with W 22seen from the front of the display apparatus 20. The drawing correspondsto a case where the parallax barrier 21 distributes the image “l” andthe image “r” in units of pixels (in units of three sub-pixels in thecase of only R, G and B, and in units of four sub-pixels in the case ofincluding W in addition to R, G and B). “l” and “r” in the drawing arethe same as in FIG. 5.

As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, in the color filter with W 22, W is notarranged uniformly over the entire filters but arranged only in one orthe other of vertical lines for the image “l” and vertical lines for theimage “r” (the image “r” in the present embodiment). Therefore, thebrightness of only one of the image “l” and the image “r” can becorrected, and deterioration of image quality and so on which may occuras side effects of adding W can be prevented in the other image (theimage “l” in the present embodiment) by the color filter with W 22.

As described above, the brightness of the image “r” can be corrected tobe high, and the deterioration of image quality and so on which mayoccur as side effects of adding W can be prevented in the image “l” bythe color filter with W 22. This is based on an idea where importance isattached to visibility with respect to the user R in the driver's seatand importance is attached to image quality with respect to the user Lin the passenger's seat in the case where the image display apparatus 20is applied to the car navigation system on an automobile in which asteering wheel is provided on the right side. Naturally, it is necessaryto reverse the positional relationship when applied to the carnavigation system on an automobile in which the steering wheel isprovided on the left side.

Returning to FIG. 4, the liquid crystal layer 23 alternately displaysthe image “l” aimed at the user L and the image “r” aimed at the user Rby switching them at high speed based on corrected image signalsinputted form the image signal correction unit 31. The backlight 24alternately irradiates a position of the user L and a position of theuser R facing the liquid crystal layer 23 in a time division manner inaccordance with control from the backlight control unit 32.

FIG. 7 shows a structure example of the backlight 24. The backlight 24includes a light emitting film 41, an LED 42-1 arranged closer to theuser L and LED 42-2 arranged closer to the user R. The light emittingfilm 41 directs irradiation light from the LED 42-1 toward the user Land directs irradiation light from the LED 42-2 toward the user R.

Returning to FIG. 4, the image signal correction unit 31 performssuitable image signal correction processing to at least one of an imagesignal of the image “l” and an image signal of the image “r” inputtedfrom the previous stage.

The backlight control unit 32 allows the LED 42-1 and the LED 42-2 ofthe backlight 24 to alternately emit light in synchronization with atiming of switching between the image “l” and the image “r” by theliquid crystal layer 23. The backlight control unit 32 further controlsoutputs (luminance) of the LED 42-1 and the LED 42-2 of the backlight 24individually.

FIGS. 8A and 8B show states where an irradiation direction of thebacklight 24 is switched by control of the backlight control unit 32.

FIG. 8A shows a state where the LED 42-1 is off and the LED 42-2 is onat a timing when the image “r” is displayed on the liquid crystal layer23. At this time, the backlight 24 entirely irradiates the position ofthe user R. FIG. 8B shows a state where the LED 42-1 is on and the LED42-2 is off at a timing when the image “l” is displayed on the liquidcrystal layer 23. At this time, the backlight 24 entirely irradiates theposition of the user L. The states of the FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B arealternately repeated while the image “l” and the image “r” are displayedon the display apparatus 20.

[Operation of Display Apparatus 20]

In the display apparatus 20, the image “l” and the image “r” aredisplayed by being switched at high speed by the liquid crystal layer23, and the image “l” and the image “r” reach the user L and the user Rby irradiation light from the backlight 24 through the color filter withW 22 and the parallax barrier 21. At this time, the image “l” visuallyrecognized by the user L is not transmitted through W in the colorfilter with W 22, while the image “r” visually recognized by the user Ris transmitted through W in the color filter with W 22. The irradiationlight of the backlight 24 is applied to the position of the user L atthe timing when the image “l” is displayed on the liquid crystal layer23 and applied to the position of the user R at the timing when theimage “r” is displayed on the liquid crystal layer 23.

Accordingly, the user L can visually recognize the image “l” in whichdeterioration of image quality does not occur as the side effect of W inthe color filter with W 22, and the user R can visually recognize theimage “r” in which brightness is corrected to be high as the effect of Win the color filter with W 22.

[Example of Utilizing Display Apparatus 20]

FIG. 9 shows seven types of use examples in the case of applying thedisplay apparatus 20 to the car navigation system of the automobile inwhich the steering wheel is provided on the right side.

A use example 1 shows a low-power consumption mode aiming to reducepower consumption of the backlight 24, in which the image “r” withrespect to the user R in the driver's seat is assumed to have an imagecontent in which deterioration of image quality which may occur as theside effect of adding W does not visually affect the image. In thiscase, the image “l” with respect to the user L in the passenger's seatis displayed on the liquid crystal layer 23 as it is and the output(luminance) of the LED 42-1 of the backlight 24 irradiating the positionof the user L is normal. On the other hand, the image “r” with respectto the user R in the driver's seat is not affected by the deteriorationof image quality due to the addition of W, therefore, all pixelsincluding W are displayed on the liquid crystal layer 23 and the output(luminance) of the LED 42-2 of the backlight 24 irradiating the positionof the user R is reduced. In this case, the user L can visuallyrecognize the image “l” with no deterioration of image quality. The userR can visually recognize the image “r” in which brightness is secured byW.

A use example 2 shows the low-power consumption mode aiming to reducepower consumption of the backlight 24, in which the image “r” withrespect to the user R in the driver's seat is assumed to have an imagecontent in which deterioration of image quality which may occur as theside effect of adding W visually affects the image. In this case, theimage “l” with respect to the user L in the passenger's seat isdisplayed on the liquid crystal layer 23 as it is and the output(luminance) of the LED 42-1 of the backlight 24 irradiating the positionof the user L is normal. On the other hand, deterioration of imagequality due to the addition of W occurs in the image “r” with respect tothe user R in the driver's seat, therefore, the image “r” which iscorrected so that pixels of W are not displayed is displayed in theliquid crystal layer 23 and the output (luminance) of the LED 42-2 ofthe backlight 24 is normal. In this case, the user L can visuallyrecognize the image “l” with no deterioration of image quality. The userR can visually recognize the image “r” in which brightness is secured asthe backlight 24 is directed toward the user R in the irradiationmanner.

A use example 3 shows a high luminance mode aiming to improve visibilityby increasing the luminance of the screen in conditions such as underdirect sunlight. In this case, the image “l” with respect to the user Lin the passenger's seat is displayed on the liquid crystal layer 23 asit is and the output (luminance) of the LED 42-1 of the backlight 24irradiating the position of the user L is normal. On the other hand, inthe image “r” with respect to the user R in the driver's seat, allpixels including W are also displayed on the liquid crystal layer 23 andthe output (luminance) of the LED 42-2 of the backlight 24 irradiatingthe position of the user R is normal. In this case, the user L canvisually recognize the image “l” with no deterioration of image quality.The user R can visually recognize the image “r” in which brightness isincreased by W.

A use example 4 shows the high luminance mode aiming to improvevisibility by further increasing the luminance of the screen inconditions such as under direct sunlight. In this case, the image “l”with respect to the user L in the passenger's seat is displayed on theliquid crystal layer 23 as it is and the output (luminance) of the LED42-1 of the backlight 24 irradiating the position of the user L isnormal. On the other hand, in the image “r” with respect to the user Rin the driver's seat, all pixels including W are also displayed on theliquid crystal layer 23 and the output (luminance) of the LED 42-2 ofthe backlight 24 irradiating the position of the user R is higher thanthe normal state. In this case, the user L can visually recognize theimage “l” with no deterioration of image quality. The user R canvisually recognize the image “r” in which brightness is furtherincreased by the increase of luminance of the backlight 24 and by W.

A use example 5 shows the high luminance mode aiming to improvevisibility by increasing the luminance of the screen in conditions suchas under direct sunlight. In this case, the image “l” with respect tothe user L in the passenger's seat is displayed on the liquid crystallayer 23 as it is and the output (luminance) of the LED 42-1 of thebacklight 24 irradiating the position of the user L is higher than thenormal state. On the other hand, in the image “r” with respect to theuser R in the driver's seat, all pixels including W are also displayedon the liquid crystal layer 23 and the output (luminance) of the LED42-2 of the backlight 24 irradiating the position of the user R ishigher than the normal state. In this case, the user L can visuallyrecognize the image “l” in which brightness is increased. The user R canvisually recognize the image “r” in which brightness is furtherincreased by the increase of luminance of the backlight 24 and by W.

A user example 6 shows a mode in which only the image “l” with respectto the user L in the passenger's seat is displayed. In this case, theimage “l” with respect to the user L in the passenger's seat isdisplayed on the liquid crystal layer 23 as it is and the output(luminance) of the LED 42-1 of the backlight 24 irradiating the positionof the user L is normal. On the other hand, the image “r” with respectto user R in the driver's seat is not displayed on the liquid crystallayer 23 and the output (luminance) of the LED 42-2 of the backlight 24irradiating the position of the user R is minimum. In this case, onlythe user L can visually recognize the image “l” with no deterioration ofimage quality.

A user example 7 shows a mode in which only the image “r” with respectto the user R in the driver's seat is displayed. In this case, the image“l” with respect to the user L in the passenger's seat is not displayedon the liquid crystal layer 23, and the output (luminance) of the LED42-1 of the backlight 24 irradiating the position of the user L isminimum. On the other hand, any one of the above use examples 1 to 5 isapplied to the image “r” with respect to the user R in the driver'sseat. In this case, only the user R can visually recognize the image “r”in which brightness is secured or increased.

As explained above, in the display apparatus 20, the image “r” visuallyrecognized by the user R in the driver's seat can be displayed in astate where the brightness of the screen is secured or increased. It isalso possible to suppress the deterioration of image quality byeliminating the effect of W depending on the image content.

It is also possible to display the image “l” visually recognized by theuser L in the passenger's seat in a state where the brightness issecured or increased without causing deterioration of image quality.

It is further possible to reduce the power consumption of the backlight24.

The display apparatus 20 can be applied to a game machine, a display forpublicity and so on in addition to the car navigation system. In thedisplay apparatus 20, W is arranged in vertical lines corresponding tothe image “r” in the color filter with W 22, however, it is alsopossible to arrange W in vertical lines corresponding to the image “l”.

The embodiment of the present disclosure is not limited to the aboveembodiment, and various modifications may occur within a scope notdeparting from the gist of the present disclosure.

The present disclosure contains subject matter related to that disclosedin Japanese Priority Patent Application JP 2012-063881 filed in theJapan Patent Office on Mar. 21, 2012, the entire contents of which arehereby incorporated by reference.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display apparatus allowing a user positioned ina first direction to visually recognize a first image and allowing auser positioned in a second direction different from the first directionto visually recognize a second image, comprising: a display unitalternately displaying the first image and the second image; anirradiation unit irradiating the display unit displaying the first imageor the second image with irradiation light; a color filter including afirst area for the first image and a second area for the second image,through which the irradiation light transmitted through the display unitis transmitted; and a distribution unit distributing the irradiationlight transmitted through the display unit and the first area of thecolor filter to the first direction and distributing the irradiationlight transmitted through the display unit and the second area of thecolor filter to the second direction, wherein one of the first area andthe second area of the color filter has color components of threeprimary colors and a white color, and the other has color components ofthree primary colors.
 2. The display apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the color filter includes the first area and the second areaalternately arranged in lines.
 3. The display apparatus according toclaim 2, wherein the color filter includes the first area and the secondarea alternately arranged in lines in units of sub-pixels or in units ofpixels.
 4. The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theirradiation unit includes a first light-emitting unit emittingirradiation light directed to the first direction, and a secondlight-emitting unit emitting irradiation light directed to the seconddirection.
 5. The display apparatus according to claim 4, wherein theirradiation unit allows the first light-emitting unit to emit light insynchronization with a timing when the first image is displayed on thedisplay unit, and allows the second light-emitting unit to emit light insynchronization with a timing when the second image is displayed on thedisplay unit.
 6. The display apparatus according to claim 4, furthercomprising: an irradiation control unit individually controllinglight-emitting timings and outputs of the first light-emitting unit andthe second light-emitting unit of the irradiation unit.
 7. The displayapparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an image signalcorrection unit performing correction processing to at least one of animage signal corresponding to the first image and an image signalcorresponding to the second image.
 8. An electronic apparatus allowing auser positioned in a first direction to visually recognize a first imageand allowing a user positioned in a second direction different from thefirst direction to visually recognize a second image, comprising: animage signal correction unit performing correction processing to atleast one of an image signal corresponding to the first image and animage signal corresponding to the second image; a display unitalternately displaying the first image and the second image; anirradiation unit irradiating the display unit displaying the first imageor the second image with irradiation light; a color filter including afirst area for the first image and a second area for the second image,through which the irradiation light transmitted through the display unitis transmitted; and a distribution unit distributing the irradiationlight transmitted through the display unit and the first area of thecolor filter to the first direction and distributing the irradiationlight transmitted through the display unit and the second area of thecolor filter to the second direction, wherein one of the first area andthe second area of the color filter has color components of threeprimary colors and a white color, and the other has color components ofthree primary colors.